SO LONG: NBC planning a two-hour farewell to Friends May 6 starting with an hour-long retrospective of classic scenes followed by a one-hour series finale. The cast will continue to reminisce from the Central Perk set on the Tonight Show later that night.

BRITNEY'S BRIDAL BELIEFS: Britney Spears blaming the excitement of Las Vegas for her 55-hour marriage to childhood pal Jason Alexander. The pop star commented on the experience during a telephone interview with MTV's Total Request Live. "I do believe in the sanctity of marriage, I totally do," Spears said. "[But] I was in Vegas, and it took over me."

TOON TROPHY: Pixar Animation vet John Lasseter tapped by the Art Directors Guild to receive its Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award. Lasseter directed both Toy Story and A Bug's Life and executive produced Monsters, Inc and Finding Nemo.

EARLY BIRD: NBC announcing that it will premiere many of its new fall shows three weeks early after the Summer Olympics end-- the same week as the Republican National Convention. The network hopes to capitalize off the promotional opportunities offered by the Olympics.

THORNS FOR ROSIE: Taboo, the Rosie O'Donnell-produced Broadway musical about the life of Boy George, will close February 8, losing all of the $10 million O'Donnell put into the production. The production opened November 13 to negative reviews and publicity.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL: Brittany Murphy is engaged to talent manager Jeffrey Evan Kwatinetz, confirmed her publicist. People magazine reports the proposal took place at a silent movie theater in Los Angeles January 9.

WHAT A RACKET: CNBC hiring tennis legend John McEnroe to lead an ensemble team for a nightly talk show that will take an irreverent look at the day's top new stories. The network is trying to revamp its primetime lineup and has already hired Dennis Miller to host another nightly show.

STORK WATCH: Newly single Mary-Louise Parker gave birth to a baby boy on January 7. The little tyke's name is William Atticus Parker according to a source.

PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY: George Clooney denying rumors that gal-pal Krista Allen is preggers through US Weekly magazine. Despite their on-again, off-again relationship Clooney says "things are going great" between the two.

BUSTED! Rip Torn was arrested Tuesday in New York for running his car into a taxi cab, reports the Smoking Gun Website. Police on the scene found a bloodshot eyed Torn disoriented and reeking of booze. He's due in court March 18.

WASN'T ME: White Stripes frontman Jack White pleading not guilty to hitting Von Bondies lead singer Jason Stollsteimer at a hearing Wednesday. His trial is scheduled to start March 19. If convicted, White faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

JACKSON WATCH: Michael Jackson's attorneys will be given access to copies of search warrants, affidavits and tape recordings from law officials in connection with the child molestation case against the pop star but the documents will remain sealed from the press and the public.

STIFF PRICE: It'll cost $250 a spot to park at the Santa Barbara court house during Michael Jackson's arraignment on Friday.

HE IS NOT AMUSED: FCC Chairman Michael Powell asking fellow commissioners to overturn last year's decision to let Bono off the hook for using the F-word. The commission ruled in the singer's favor because it was decided he used the word as an adjective, not to describe a sexual act.

FASHION TERROR? Paris Hilton topping Mr. Blackwell's 44th Annual Worst Dressed list as "the vapid Venus of Beverly Hills." Britney Spears, Lara Flynn Boyle, Celine Dion and Jessica Simpson also qualified as style stinkers.

HAZARDS OF THE JOB: Ted Nugent suffering a chain saw gash to the leg on Sunday that required 40 stitches to close while taping his new reality series. The 55-year-old rocker bounced right back, going to work with a brace on his leg.

PIECED BACK TOGETHER: Ozzy Osbourne's collarbone has been replaced with a rod Sharon reported on her first day back at work Monday. The Osbourne missus also told her talk show viewers that Ozzy nearly lost his arm in last month's ATV accident.

ACCUSED: A former model suing hip-hop mogul Damon Dash for $15 million accusing him of rape, per the New York Post. The alleged attack took place in Brazil after a New Year's Eve party in 2002. Dash has denied the allegations.

CODA: Singer-songwriter Randy VanWarmer, best known for the 1979 pop hit "Just When I Needed You Most," died Monday of leukemia. He was 48.

MOVING ON: Antonio "L.A." Reid, Arista Records president and CEO, quit his post Tuesday with 17 months left on his contract. The allegedly forced departure is being chalked up to operating losses at Arista.

PIRACY CONTINUES: Another Oscar screener has surfaced on the Web according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The source of The Last Samurai making the rounds has yet to be discovered.

SUPERMAN SQUARED: Christopher Reeve reprising his role of Dr. Swann for the TV show Smallville. The episode will air on April 14 on the WB.

LEGAL EAGLE: Patrick Dempsey is guest starring on ABC's The Practice on January 25.

I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW: NBC putting in an order for new drama pilot Medium, about a psychic suburban mom who helps solve crimes, executive produced by Kelsey Grammer, among others.

HEAD START: NBC premiering its new shows three weeks early this fall after the end of the Summer Olympics. Programming kicks off August 29.

SADDLE UP: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in talks to play cowboy lovers in director Ang Lee's adaptation of the E. Annie Proulx novella Brokeback Mountain, per Variety.

OSCAR WATCH: Members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences must have their Oscar nomination ballots in by this Saturday. Nominations will be announced on January 27 and can been seen live on E!